Going on vacation? Staying home by the pool? A book is a great way to pass the time!Not sure where to start? Here's a list of the books Ms. Gilroy loved this year and the ones she and Mrs. Fecher are going to read this summer:

Ms. Gilroy's Recommendations

My favorite books from the school year:

I am loving this series! This is the first book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Celaena Sardothien was known as Adarlan's assassin - the most feared woman in the world - until she was captured and sent to work in the mines. Now she's been given a shot at freedom - a chance to become the King's Champion - a role in which she'd be his enforcer. The idea of being free again is too much to resist, and Celaena enters the competition. Along the way she befriends the prince, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and many others along the way. Soon, her life is put in danger, and she has to rely on these new friends - something she's never experienced before. So good!

From the author of the original "Notorious RBG" tumblr, this book showcases the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Using rare photos, illustrations, interviews, and even lyrics from Notorious B.I.G., I found myself learning so much more about RBG than I ever imagined - from her time as a professor at Rutgers fighting for equality for women to her Supreme Court Justice nomination. I loved this quote from a NY Times review: "Clark Kent had Superman. Ruth Bader Ginsburg has Notorious R.B.G...Carmon and Knizhnik have turned R.B.G.'s robe into a cape."

If you haven't already watched the movie, definitely read the book first! I thought i would be bored with all of the science jargon, but Andy Weir writes the perfect blend of science fiction and humor. I was actually laughing out loud at some of the situations the main character, Mark Watney gets himself into when he's abandoned on Mars by his crew who thinks he's dead. He spends the rest of his time there attempting to communicate with Earth, find a way home, and of course - survive.

When Dr. Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with lung cancer he went from being a top neurosurgeon to patient in the blink of an eye. This memoir is full of details from his diagnosis to his death. I loved that Dr. Kalanithi focused on the relationship between science and medicine, and I found this to be one of the most moving books I read all year. He died before this book was finished, and his wife wrote the epilogue which touched on her acceptance of his untimely death as well as the heartbreaking loss that everyone who knew him felt.

Our first book club book from back in September! I though this debut novel from Nicola Yoon was excellent. If you loved Eleanor & Park you'll love reading about Maddy and Olly. Maddy is allergic to everything and has been unable to leave her house for years. Olly is the new kid next door. Somehow the two manage to communicate with each other and the rest is history. I loved Yoon's writing style, a mix of traditional writing and unique dialogue through e-mail and text messages. Plus the author's husband contributed illustrations that help showcase Maddy's personality and her life trapped at home.

I'm a big fan of historical fiction. I love books that transport you to another time. These Shallow Graves takes you straight to New York City in the late 1800s. Josephine Montfort's father is dead and the police have determined it was an "accidental" self-inflicted gunshot. But Jo knows it's murder. She sets out to uncover the truth, and along the way learns a lot about the privileged world she's from and the way everybody else lives. She gets help from a newspaper reporter at her family-owned paper and together the two race to find the truth while facing danger at every turn. Jo is a strong character, and the mystery surrounding her father's death will keep you guessing til the very end!

What I'm reading this summer:

This book looks so interesting! Science journalist, Claudia Kalb, takes us on a journey into the minds of some of the most famous historic figures, including Marilyn Monroe and of course Pittsburgh's own Andy Warhol!

I love historical fiction. This one takes place during WWII, and brings the main character on a daring adventure to find a missing Jewish teen. The reviews say it's a "mysterious, beautiful, heartbreaking story."

Since I love the Throne of Glass books by Sarah J. Maas, this summer I'm going to check out her newest series. The reviews say it blends Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore, so it should be an interesting read!

Mrs. Fecher's summer suggestions:

A historical setting with drama and heartache. Characters that you come to live in a tale that will tear your heart out. I'll have a box of tissues handy.